‘I got a little emotional which is not usually like me’: Family rejoices as Josh Rachele prepares for AFL debut

By Zac Standish

Mar 17, 2022

A dream come true: Shepparton Swans product Josh Rachele will become the 251st player to don a Crows jumper in the club’s season opener against Fremantle on Sunday. Photo: AAP Image/James Ross Photo by JAMES ROSS

Described by Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks as the club’s “worst kept secret”, Shepparton Swans product Josh Rachele will make his AFL debut for the Crows this weekend in their round one clash against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval.

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Set to become the 251st player to don an Adelaide jumper, Rachele has been turning heads at West Lakes since the club selected him with pick six in last year’s national draft.

The mercurial forward was particularly impressive in the Crows’ pre-season fixtures against Brisbane and Port Adelaide, kicking six goals across both games to secure his place in the round one side.

Part of a close-knit Shepparton-based family, father Jason recalled the moment his son broke the news that his AFL dream was coming true.

“I was actually at the chiropractor when he rang, so I walked outside and he gave me the good news — I got a little emotional which is not usually like me,” Rachele said.

“We are all super proud, he has obviously sacrificed a lot to get where he is and I think it is definitely paying off now, so as a family we are just so happy and grateful that Adelaide have given him a chance.”

Growing up a talented multi-sport athlete, Rachele knew Josh had a special gift from an early age and is not at all surprised to see him now plying his trade at the elite level.

“Josh is certainly a different kid; he is a competitive kid and has always had goals in his life to be a professional athlete,” he said.

“I knew at one point (he would get to the elite level), he’s got that mindset that nothing is going to stop him from getting where he wants to go.

“Once he went back to playing footy from soccer there was no stopping him, he put in the hard work, and I am so happy to see him achieve his dream of playing in the AFL.”

Gearing up for what is set to be an exciting weekend for the Rachele clan, he said the family couldn’t wait to get over to Adelaide and watch Josh’s initiation to elite level sport in person.

“We (the family) are heading over there on Saturday, and we’ll spend a couple of nights in Adelaide, we’ll be there for his jumper presentation, and we got invited to a chairman’s lunch before the game kicks off — so it should be an exciting couple of days,” he said.

“Hopefully we see him snag a few goals, when he gets the ball, you know he’s going to do something with it, so if he just plays his role and has a bit of fun with it that will be the main thing.”